Multi-head point of sale terminal

ABSTRACT

The invention provides increased convenience through use of multiple opposed magnetic stripe reader heads within a POS terminal card reader track. In one embodiment, the various opposed heads are offset along the card reader track. The POS terminal also accommodates smart card and contactless instrument readers and includes features for electronic signature capture, user display interaction, multi-tasking capabilities, check reading and age and identity verification.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/100,060 filed Apr. 6, 2005, and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 7,850,074 on Dec. 14, 2010.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates, generally, to a point of sale (“POS”)terminal capable of bi-directional reading of magnetic cards withoutregard to card orientation, and more particularly to a POS terminalhaving multiple opposed magnetic stripe reader heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Point of sale (“POS”) terminals enable convenient electronic payment formany products and services. Consumers holding cards associated with acharge, credit, debit, or loyalty account may pay for a purchase simplyby entering a card or card information directly into the POS terminal.The demonstrated success of “pay at the pump” terminals is just oneexample of the popular acceptance of and preference for the convenienceof POS terminal transactions. Smart card and contactless card readersprovide additional convenience at such POS terminals.

Presently known POS terminals typically include, inter alia, a magneticstripe reader, a keypad for entry of a personal identification number(“PIN”), and a user display. Conventional POS terminals communicate witha central computer to authorize and settle sales transactions. Terminalsoften include peripheral devices such as printers, bar code readers orPIN entry pads. Use of such known POS terminals typically requires thatthe user orient the magnetic stripe on a card to correspond to theposition of the magnetic stripe reader head within the card track orslot on the terminal. Many models also require and supposedly instructthat the card be passed through the track in a particular direction inaddition to requiring a particular orientation of the card. Accordingly,consumers or other users of such terminals often fail to properly orientor direct the card within the card track. Improper orientation ordirection of a card may result in confusion and uncertainty, leading tofailed transactions or redundant transactions as information isresubmitted. This problem is compounded by the fact that differentterminals employ different card reader configurations and instructions,relying on imprecise arrows, pictures, and written instructions to guidethe user as to card orientation and direction. This problem has longbeen a source of delay, inconvenience and frustration for consumers andmerchants alike.

Accordingly, there is a need for a POS terminal that accommodatesmultiple card orientations and bi-directional magnetic stripe cardreading and that overcomes other shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention facilitates convenient POS terminal transactionsby providing a dual head magnetic stripe reader for reading either sideof a transaction card passed through a card reader in either direction.By including at least two heads in a swipe-style card reader, a POSterminal accommodates reading of cards in multiple orientations or inany given orientation. In a swipe-style reader, the magnetic stripe on acard may face either sidewall of a card track and may be passed throughthe track in either direction. Additional heads may be used on afeed-return swipe or ATM style POS terminal to accept a card in anyorientation. For example, use of four reader heads in such terminalsaccommodates reading of a magnetic card stripe in any of four possibleorientations, i.e. allowing for insertion of either end of a card witheither face of the card facing a particular direction.

Offsetting the reader heads along the card track reduces or preventsfield interference and/or binding or chatter of the card within thetrack due to interference with track and head components or contours.Supplemental transaction instrument readers such as smart card readersor contactless readers provide additional data extraction functionalityto the multi-head magnetic stripe reader POS terminal.

Other features of various embodiments of the present invention mayinclude or support electronic signature capture, an interactive screen,multi-tasking capabilities, age and identity verification, program oraccount enrollment, account status and balance inquiries, payroll andgovernment check reading, and medical or other insurance claimtransactions. The present invention may be used with various types ofaccounts including credit, debit, charge, and loyalty programs and mayalso accommodate payment by promotion or gift cards, prepaid cards,payroll checks and government checks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional aspects of the present invention will become evident uponreviewing the non-limiting embodiments described in the specificationand the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures,wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary POS terminal according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary dual magnetic reader headassembly; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary magnetic stripe reader modular unitfor use with a POS terminal according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which showexemplary embodiments by way of illustration and the best mode. Whilethese exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should beunderstood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical andmechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein ispresented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. Forexample, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptionsmay be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented.

For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, applicationdevelopment and other functional aspects of the system (and componentsof the individual operating components of the system) may not bedescribed in detail herein. It should be noted that many alternative oradditional functional relationships or physical connections may bepresent in a practical system.

A point of sale (“POS”) terminal according to various embodiments of thepresent invention includes a transaction instrument reader (e.g.,magnetic stripe reader), various electronic circuits for processing asales transaction, an interactive display for presenting and receivinginput of transaction information, a keypad including numeric andfunction keys, and a housing containing the circuits, display andkeypad. The POS terminal may be used with any number of transactioninstruments and thus may provide for interchangeable or supplementaltransaction instrument interfaces. For example, in one embodiment, amagnetic stripe reader module may be detached from the POS terminalhousing and a smart card reader module attached to the housing in itsplace. Wireless capabilities are also incorporated into the presentinvention to provide portability. Periphery devices for use with the POSterminal may include printers, additional displays, PIN entry pads,alphanumeric keyboards, voice prompt systems, signature capture devices,bar code reader, and biometric reader. The POS terminal may be a standalone unit or may be integrated into an electronic cash register(“ECR”), vending machine or a self check-out kiosk and the like.

In an exemplary POS transaction, the POS terminal facilitates paymentsby extracting account information from a user's transaction instrument(e.g., when a user swipes a credit card), receiving user authenticationinput, constructing an authorization message, and communicating theauthorization message to a payment manager host computer to authorize asales transaction. As used herein, the term “user” includes a consumer,cardholder, merchant, and merchant temporarily in possession of aconsumer's transaction card. Cardholder authentication may beaccomplished using a PIN number, signature, voice command, biometricinput, encrypted transaction instrument data, or any other suitableinput. The host computer performs normal authorization procedures andreturns one of an authorization and a rejection message. In performingan “on-line” transaction, after the transaction is consummated, the POSterminal communicates the relevant details of the transaction to bestored on the payment manager host computer. While in performing an“off-Line” transaction the terminal may approve or decline based ontables or card date, and later forward transaction data to the paymentmanager host computer. The POS terminal further communicates with thepayment manager host computer to reconcile accounts at the end of apredetermined business cycle (e.g., at the end of each day).Communications between the POS terminal and a host computer may beconducted over any suitable network now known or later developed. Asused herein, the term “network” shall include any electroniccommunications means which incorporates both hardware and softwarecomponents of such. Exemplary networks or communication channels includea telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, onlinecommunications, satellite communications, off-line communications,wireless communications, transponder communications, local area network(LAN), wide area network (WAN), networked or linked devices, and/or anysuitable communication or data input modality.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the invention isillustrated including a POS terminal 100 having a housing 102, a key pad104, an interactive display 106, a card track 108, a first magneticstripe reader head 110, and a second magnetic stripe reader head 112.Housing 102 houses various components of POS terminal 100 includingbasic components not shown here, such as a power supply circuit,internal clock, microcontroller or microprocessor, ROM, RAM, lights, andother suitable hardware for communicating with a host computer, andinputting, processing, transferring or displaying transaction data.

Housing 102 includes card track 108 formed therein and houses readerheads 110 and/or 112 positioned along track 108. Track 108 includes twosidewalls for guiding a user's transaction card drawn past reader heads110 and/or 112 to facilitate extraction of card data from a magneticstripe on the card. Reader heads 110 and 112 are positioned alongopposite sidewalls of card track 108. The invention contemplates anyorientation or placement of magnetic heads 110 and 112 that facilitatesreading of a magnetic stripe on a card in at least two differentorientations. For example, reader heads 110 and/or 112 need not bepositioned in or along a track, but may, instead, be positioned withreference to any suitable card positioning feature such as a ledge, pin,slot, or the like. Reader heads 110 and 112 are offset from one anotheralong the length of card track 108. Offsetting reader heads 110 and 112along card track 108 reduces field interference and/or enables a user tomore smoothly draw a card through card track 108. Reader heads 110 and112 may be directly opposed in alternative embodiments.

Reader heads 110 and 112 may be positioned so as to protrude from, beflush-mounted with, or be recessed into the sidewalls of card track 108.Similarly, card track 108 need not include sidewalls, but may include,instead, any feature suitable for guiding a card past reader heads 110and 112. Exemplary alternative card track features include a slot,ledge, pin, tab, projection, recess, and the like. A mechanical feed orfeed-return device may be used to automatically draw a card insertedinto card track 108 past reader heads 110 and/or 112.

A magnetic stripe reader circuit associated with reader heads 110 and112 facilitates bi-directional reading of magnetic stripe data, forexample, by transposing captured data when necessary to obtain a propersequence of account information. Bi-directional reading of transactioncards provides increased convenience by allowing POS terminal users toswipe a card without regard to a particular direction. Reader heads 110and 112 may be connected to the magnetic stripe reader in parallel tothe same decoder. Alternatively, reader heads 110 and 112 may beindividually coupled to separate decoders to facilitate simultaneousdata extraction from both sides of a magnetic stripe card.

Reader heads 110 and/or 112 may be configured to read single or multipletracks within a magnetic stripe. For example, each of reader heads 110and 112 may comprise a stack of two or more associated heads for readingmultiple tracks, e.g., one track containing user identification andanother containing account information. Individual tracks may be coupledseparately or in parallel to decoder circuits to facilitate multipleorientations as well as reading of multiple stripe tracks located onopposing sides of a card in multiple orientations.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary dual magnetic head assembly 200,including reader heads 110 and 112 positioned along track 108. Readerheads 110 and 112 are coupled to at least one decoder circuit by meansof electric terminals 202. Coupling of reader heads 100 and 112 to atleast one decoder circuit may further be by means of socket interface120 shown in FIG. 3 and socket 16. At least one of reader heads 110 and112 may be biased towards the center of track 108 by spring members 206.Biasing by spring members 206 serves to maintain close proximity orcontact between a card stripe and reader head 110 or 112 while a card ispassed along track 108. Spring members 206 may also serve to align cardswithin track 108 by initially yielding to accommodate misaligned cards.Biasing of reader heads 110 and 112 may be accomplished by any means nowknown or later developed in the art. Alternatively, heads 110 and/or 112may rigidly secured along a narrowed track 108.

Through experimentation, it was found that an offset of between 2 mm and5 mm between the centers of reader heads 110 and 112 along track 108provides for reduced field interference and/or card chatter. Directlyopposing reader heads may potentially cause field interference.Offsetting reader heads 110 and 112 by more than 7 mm tends to increasethe likelihood of card chatter during reading by a first head as theleading edge of the card engages a second head. Thus, it was found thatoffsetting reader heads 110 and 112 equal to or less than the length ofthe unused portion of the magnetic stripe, typically 5 mm, ensured thata card was in contact with both reader heads 110 and 112 prior toextraction of data by either head.

In one embodiment, housing 102 includes a removable faceplate 114adjacent at least portions of display 106 and/or keypad 104. In variousother embodiments, faceplate 114 is integral with housing 102. Removablefaceplate 114 may be personalized or decorated to correspond with amerchant's branding (e.g., trademark) or marketing events (e.g., sales).Exemplary decorations include logos, slogan, colors, or other marketinguseful in reinforcing customer branding impressions. Removable faceplate114 is suitably configured to be easily removed and/or replaced when itbecomes worn or soiled through use. In embodiments in which keypad 104is electronically presented on display 106, removable faceplate 114 maycomprise a bezel surrounding display 106.

Housing 102 further includes a socket 116 for connecting additionaltransaction data extraction devices such as a smart card reader, barcode scanner or other types of peripheral devices. Socket 116 includes apin bar or contact strip type electrical interface or may include anyother suitable connection or interface now known or later developed inthe art. Thus, modular or peripheral devices may be connected to housing102 with socket 116. Socket 116 may also be used to simply associate adevice physically with housing 102, for example, where a device includeswireless communication capabilities. Exemplary modular peripheraldevices include smart card readers, contactless transaction instrumentreaders, radio frequency readers, infrared and wireless communicationsdevices, supplemental magnetic stripe readers, PIN keypads, bar codescanners, printers, modems, telephone handsets, biometric scanners,voice command input devices and the like. Similarly, any peripheraldevice or capability now known or later developed may be integrated intoor associated with POS terminal 100. Additionally, housing 102 mayinclude features such as a latch, clip, or slot to facilitate tabletop,pedestal or stand mounting.

Keypad 104 comprises an alphanumeric keypad including keys numbered zerothrough nine for entry of PIN numbers. Keypad 104 may also include anynumber of function keys, such as, for example, keys for canceling atransaction, specifying the type of transaction instrument, selectingwhether to print a receipt, confirming a charge amount, or for any otherrelevant feature. Alphanumeric and/or function keys on keypad 104 may beseparately movable as with a conventional keyboard, or may be displayedon an interactive surface that responds to pressure, static, or anyother suitable user input or action. In a preferred embodiment, keypad104 is integrated into interactive display 106 as a series of on-screeninteractive icons. Exemplary function keys or icons include: cancel,enter, clear, print, reset, power, debit, credit, cash back, additionaltransaction selection, preset dollar amounts for cash back, and thelike.

With continued reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, interactivedisplay 106 serves to display transaction information and with anoptional touch screen, may also receive user input such as a customer'ssignature. Various embodiments include electronic signature capture,enabling user's to electronically authorize a transaction by passing astylus or pen over the display much the same as signing a conventionalpaper receipt. Replaceable screen protectors protect display 106 fromwear by the stylus. Display 106 may present advertising or interactivemessages such flashing or moving messages notifying users of merchantmembership programs, sales, upcoming events and the like. In alternativeembodiments, display 106 is not interactive but merely displaystransaction data while providing no signature capture, interactive iconsor other on-screen user input capabilities. In additional alternativeembodiments, POS terminal 100 does not include any type of display 106,for example, when POS terminal 100 is coupled to a cash registerincluding a display. Alternatively, a stand alone POS terminal 100 neednot have any form of display 106 to facilitate a transaction.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary dual-head magnetic stripe reader module300 for use with a modular embodiment of the POS terminal shown inFIG. 1. Magnetic stripe reader module 300 includes a card track 108 fordynamically receiving a transaction card and reader heads 110 and 112for dynamically reading a magnetic stripe on the transaction card.Magnetic stripe reader module 300 further includes a socket interface120 for coupling with a socket on a POS terminal. As discussed earlier,any number of POS terminal sockets, interfaces, or connections may beused to associate a magnetic stripe reader module, smart card module,stored money card module, or any other modular or peripheral device withthe POS terminal. While various readers, authentication devices,scanners, etc, may be described herein as modules, it is understood thatsuch devices may likewise be integrated into or otherwise associatedwith the POS terminal.

In one embodiment of the invention, a micro-processor disposed in POSterminal 100 and associated programming modules support simultaneousprocessing of data in two different software applications or in twoseparate transactions. This multi-thread or multi-applicationfunctionality enables POS terminal users to conduct a second concurrenttransaction without having to wait for completion of an earliersubmitted transaction. For example, a user may conduct a loyalty programtransaction concurrent with a credit card transaction. Such multi-threadprocessing is advantageous, for example, when a user desires to pay foran item using a mixture of loyalty program points and credit or debitcharges. Concurrent transaction processing is similarly advantageous inperforming concurrent credits/returns and new purchases, concurrentpurchases and loyalty program credits, concurrent age and/or identityverification and check cashing, concurrent purchases and programenrollments, or concurrent purchases and rebate processing. An exemplaryPOS terminal may also support multiple applications, that is two or moreseparate applications may exist on the terminal, and may be invokedmanually by selection, for example, from a base menu, or automaticallybased on input card data. In other words, various embodiments of POSterminal 100 support multiple concurrent applications or transactions,and/or multiple asynchronous applications or transactions invoked eithermanually or automatically.

The POS terminal facilitates concurrent transactions by establishingmultiple communication channels or multiple dialogues over a singlechannel with distinct applications or systems and by simultaneouslycommunicating or processing transaction information and user inputs tothe distinct applications or systems. For example, a combined chargecard/loyalty card may include stored data to prompt the POS terminal tocommunicate transaction information to both the charge account hostsystem and the loyalty program host systems. A user's PIN entry maylikewise be submitted to both host systems to provide userauthentication. This enables loyalty programs to be more flexible andresponsive in offering program benefits to members.

One embodiment of the invention supports age and identity verificationby extracting user data from a user's transaction instrument, requestingauthentication input, and verifying the user data and authenticationinput with user data stored on the host system of the transactioninstrument issuer. Age and identity verification may likewise beperformed using any appropriate transaction instrument data, host systemdata or user supplied data.

One embodiment of the invention supports payroll check and governmentcheck reading and/or cashing. For example, the POS terminal facilitatesthe capture of routing and account numbers, and any other relevantinformation from bar codes or other machine readable indicia printed orotherwise accessible on such checks. Thus, a consumer may present suchchecks for immediate electronic verification and drawing of funds fromthe check issuer's account for use in payment at a POS terminal. Inembodiments that include a cash return device, a consumer may receiveany remaining balance of the check value as cash.

In one embodiment of the invention, IP and/or USB ports enableconnectivity of the POS terminal with a keyboard, personal computer, orwith additional POS terminals. Additionally, the POS terminal maysupport both Ethernet and modem connectivity capabilities. Redundantcommunications connectivity capabilities serve to reduce or eliminatethe impact of temporary network failures by automatically reestablishingcommunications with a host system using a backup communications channel.For example, if a local interne network hub fails, the POS automaticallydials the appropriate host system using a back-up modem. Additionalwireless communication capabilities enable portable use of the POSterminal. For example, a salesperson may carry a wireless POS terminalon his or her belt for assisting customer's with showroom purchaseswithout the need to relocate to a cashier's desk

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims or the invention. Thescope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothingother than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly sostated, but rather “one or more.” Further, no element described hereinis required for the practice of the invention unless expressly describedas “essential” or “critical.”

1. A point-of-sale terminal comprising: electronic transaction circuits;a housing for said electronic transaction circuits; a card swipe trackassociated with said housing, for dynamically orienting a transactioncard having a magnetic stripe on at least one of a first face and asecond face of said card; a first magnetic stripe reader head disposedalong said track for reading said magnetic stripe on said first face ofsaid card; at least a second magnetic stripe reader head disposed alongsaid track, opposite said first magnetic stripe reader head for readingsaid magnetic stripe on said second face of said card; and wherein saidelectronic transaction circuits are configured to facilitate multiplesimultaneous transactions through said point of sale terminal, saidmultiple simultaneous transactions comprising at least two of a creditaccount transaction, debit account transaction, checking accounttransaction, loyalty account transaction, rebate processing, refundprocessing, age verification, identity verification, concurrentpurchase, and program enrollment.
 2. The point of sale terminal of claim1, wherein said at least a second magnetic stripe reader head islongitudinally offset along said track from said first magnetic stripereader head.
 3. The point of sale terminal of claim 2, wherein said atleast a second magnetic stripe reader head is longitudinally offset fromsaid first magnetic stripe reader head a distance of between 1 and 7millimeters.
 4. The point of sale terminal of claim 2, wherein said atleast a second magnetic stripe reader head is longitudinally offset fromsaid first magnetic stripe reader head a distance of between 2 and 5millimeters.
 5. The point of sale terminal of claim 1, wherein at leastone of said first and said at least a second magnetic stripe reader headfacilitates bi-directional reading of a card drawn along said track. 6.The point of sale terminal of claim 1, wherein said track comprises atleast one of a slot, ledge, projection, recess and said at least a firstmagnetic stripe reader head.
 7. The point of sale terminal of claim 1,further comprising: at least one of a smart card interface, contactlessantenna circuit reader, radio frequency receiver, infrared receiver, barcode reader, and biometric reader.
 8. An improved point of saleterminal, wherein the improvement comprises: a first magnetic stripereader head; at least a second magnetic stripe reader head positionedopposite said first magnetic stripe reader head along a card swipe trackto facilitate the extraction of data from a transaction card in multiplecard orientations; and electronic transaction circuits configured tofacilitate multiple simultaneous transactions through said point of saleterminal, said multiple simultaneous transactions comprising at leasttwo of a credit account transaction, debit account transaction, checkingaccount transaction, loyalty account transaction, rebate processing,refund processing, age verification, identity verification, concurrentpurchase, and program enrollment.
 9. The improved point of sale terminalof claim 8, wherein said at least a second magnetic stripe reader headis longitudinally offset from said first magnetic stripe reader headalong said card swipe track.
 10. The point of sale terminal of claim 9,wherein said at least a second magnetic stripe reader head islongitudinally offset from said first magnetic stripe reader head adistance of between 1 and 7 millimeters.
 11. The point of sale terminalof claim 9, wherein said at least a second magnetic stripe reader headis longitudinally offset from said first magnetic stripe reader head adistance of between 2 and 5 millimeters.
 12. A method of extractingfinancial transaction information at a point of sale terminal, saidmethod comprising: providing a first magnetic stripe reader head and atleast a second magnetic stripe reader head opposite said first magneticstripe reader head; providing a card swipe track to facilitate drawing amagnetic stripe on a transaction card past at least one of said firstmagnetic stripe reader head and said at least a second magnetic stripereader head; receiving said transaction card drawn along said card swipetrack; extracting account information from said transaction card; andprocessing multiple simultaneous transactions through said point of saleterminal, said multiple simultaneous transactions comprising at leasttwo of a credit account transaction, debit account transaction, checkingaccount transaction, loyalty account transaction, rebate processing,refund processing, age verification, identity verification, concurrentpurchase, and program enrollment.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid step of extracting account information from said transaction cardis performed independent of the direction of travel of said transactioncard within said card swipe track.
 14. The method of claim 12, whereinthe step of receiving said transaction card drawn along said card swipetrack comprises mechanically drawing said transaction card along saidcard swipe track.